**BREAKING: COBRA-GATE ROCKS SOUTH AFRICAN SUBURBS AS REPTILE EXPERTS BATTLE DEADLY SERPENT UNDER BED**
In a jaw-dropping, spine-tingling, and downright terrifying turn of events, a South African homeowner got more than they bargained for when they discovered a highly venomous cape cobra taking a snooze under their pillow.
According to eyewitnesses, 32-year-old Thembi Ndhlovu was fast asleep in his bedroom in the quiet suburban town of Cape Town when he suddenly let out a blood-curdling scream that shattered windows and rattled the neighbors.
“It was like something out of a horror movie!” exclaimed a visibly shaken Ndhlovu. “I was just lying there, minding my own business, when I felt something long and slithery poking me in the head. Next thing I knew, I was staring into the beady eyes of a cobra… under my pillow!”
Panicked, Ndhlovu leapt out of bed and phoned for emergency reptile removal services, summoning the fearless and renowned reptile wrangler, Themba “Snake Whisperer” Mthembu.
Mthembu, a 10-year veteran of the reptile wrangling business, arrived on the scene armed with a sturdy pair of gloves, a tranquilizer gun, and a look of steely determination.
“It was a typical Tuesday morning for me, until I got the call about the cobra under the pillow,” said Mthembu, donning a brave face. “I’ve dealt with snakes in toilets, in kitchens, even in a braai (barbecue) pit, but this one took the cake. Or should I say, the pillow?”
As Mthembu cautiously approached the bed, he coaxed the 1.5-meter-long cobra out from under the pillow using a clever combination of snake charmer magic and expertly applied treats.
“It was a delicate operation, let me tell you,” Mthembu revealed, his voice laced with excitement. “The cobra was quite… cozy, shall we say, under the pillow. It took some gentle persuasion to get it to vacate the premises.”
The massive cape cobra, estimated to weigh a whopping 2.5 kilograms, was safely relocated to a nearby wildlife sanctuary, where it will live out its days in peace, far from any unsuspecting pillows.
Ndhlovu, still shaken but grateful, praised Mthembu’s bravery and expertise. “I don’t know what I would have done without Themba. I mean, who checks under their pillow for snakes, right?”
The incident has left the community in stitches, with many residents vowing to conduct regular under-pillow checks to avoid any future reptilian run-ins.
**UPDATE**: The homeowner has since started a support group for people traumatized by snakes in unexpected places.
